How to completely format a Xiaomi smartphone: 5 proven methods

Formatting a smartphone Xiaomi is a radical, but sometimes necessary step to solve system problems, prepare for sale, or eliminate the consequences of an unsuccessful update. Unlike a regular reboot, a hard reset removes all user data, apps, and settings, returning the device to its out-of-the-box state. However, not all formatting methods are equally safe: incorrect actions can lead to "brick" (inoperability) of the phone or loss of access to the account Mi Account.

In this article we will look all current methods - from a standard reset via the menu to forced clearing via Fastboot i EDL mode. We will pay special attention to the nuances for locked devices, phones with an unlocked bootloader and models based on MIUI i HyperOS. If your Xiaomi slows down, does not turn on, or requires a “clean” installation of the firmware, here you will find working solutions with explanations for beginners and experienced users.

1. When you need to format Xiaomi: 7 good reasons

Resetting to factory settings is not a panacea, but in some cases it is the only way to bring your phone back to life. Here are typical scenarios when formatting is justified:

• 🐢 Critical slowdown: the phone lags even in simple applications (for example, Redmi Note 10 Pro after a year of use), and clearing the cache does not help.
• 🔒 Forgotten pattern key or PIN: if you do not remember the unlock password, but Find My Device does not work.
• 📱 Preparation for sale/transfer: deleting all personal data (photos, messages, accounts) without the possibility of recovery.
• 🔄 Errors after update: MIUI or HyperOS does not start, cyclic reboots occur (bootloop).
• 🦠 Viruses or malware: if the antivirus detected threats that are not removed by standard methods.
• 📲 Firmware failure: after unsuccessful installation of a custom one ROM or modified recovery.
• 🔧 Software testing: for developers or enthusiasts before installing custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience).

Important: if the problem is related to hardware faults (for example, the touchscreen or camera does not work), formatting will not help. In such cases, diagnostics are required at a service center.

⚠️ Attention: On models Xiaomi with account linking Mi Account (for example, Redmi 9A or POCO X3 Pro) after resetting, you may need to enter the login/password of the previous owner. If the phone was purchased second-hand, check this information in advance!

2. Preparation for formatting: what to do before. reset

An unpleasant surprise after formatting is the loss of important data. To avoid this, follow the required steps:

Make a backup copy of contacts (via Settings → Google → Backup)

Save photos/videos to PC or cloud (Google Photos, Mi Cloud)

Write down logins/passwords for accounts (social networks, banks, mail)

Make sure the battery level is > 50%

Remove the memory card (if you do not plan to format it too)

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To back up data to MIUI:

1. Go to Settings → About phone → Backup and reset → Local backup.
2. Select categories to save (applications, settings, media).
3. Press Create a backup copy and wait for completion (the file will be saved in the folder MIUI/backup/AllBackup).

If the phone does not turn on or is locked, try extracting the data via recovery mode (Recovery) or by connecting the device to the PC in mode Fastboot (drivers will be required ADB and utility Mi Flash Tool).

Once a month

Only before resetting/firmware

Never done

I use cloud storage (automatically)-->

3. Method 1: Standard reset through the settings menu

The simplest and safest method is a reset directly from a running system. Suitable for most models Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO on MIUI 12–14 or HyperOS.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Open Settings → About phone → Backup and reset.
2. Select Reset settings (on some firmware - Delete all data).
3. Read the warning and click Reset settings.
4. When prompted, enter PIN code or pattern key.
5. Confirm the action with the button Erase everything.

After the reboot, you will be prompted to set up your phone as new If. the device was bound to Mi Account, authorization will be required.

⚠️ Attention: On some models (for example, Xiaomi 12T or Redmi K50) an error may appear after the reset. This means that the bootloader is locked to unlock. you will need the official utility "This device is locked". This means the bootloader is locked. To unlock you will need the official utility Mi Unlock Tool.

4. Method 2: Formatting via Recovery Mode

If the phone does not turn on, is stuck on the logo or is locked, this will help. recovery mode (Recovery). data-i="132">How to enter Recovery:

How to log into Recovery:

1. Turn off the phone (press and hold the power button for 10 seconds).
2. Hold the combination:
   • For most models: Volume up + Power.
   • For POCO F3/F4: Volume Down + Power.
   • For Xiaomi 13/14: You may need to connect to a PC via cable.

Release the buttons when the logo Mi or menu appears Recovery.

In the recovery menu, use the volume buttons to navigate and the power button to select. Next:

1. Select Wipe Data (or Clear Data).
2. Confirm the action (Confirm or Yes).
3. Wait for completion (on The message will appear on the screen Data wipe complete).
4. Return to the main menu and select Reboot.

If there is no item Recovery no item Wipe Data, then custom recovery is installed (for example, TWRPIn this case:

1. Select Wipe → Advanced Wipe.
2. Tick the following boxes: Dalvik/ART Cache, System, Data, Internal Storage (if you need to clear the memory completely).
3. Swipe to confirm (Swipe to Wipe).

What to do if Recovery does not open?

If after pressing a combination of buttons, the phone vibrates, but the menu does not appear, try:

1. Connect the charger (sometimes helps with a low battery).

2. Use another combination (for example, for Redmi Note 8 Pro needed Volume up + Volume down + Power).

3. Install Mi Flash Tool on the PC and flash the phone in mode Fastboot.

5. Method 3: Complete cleaning via Fastboot (for experienced)

Method via Fastboot suitable for devices with an unlocked bootloader or if standard formatting did not work. You will need a computer with installed drivers ADB/Fastboot and utility Mi Flash Tool.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Download and install Platform Tools (includes fastboot).
2. Turn off the phone and switch it to Fastboot:

   Volume down + Power mode

   (for POCO X5 Pro may be required Volume up + Power).

3. Connect your phone to the PC via a USB cable.
4. Open the command line (cmd) in the folder with platform-tools and run:

   fastboot devices

   (the serial number of the device should be displayed).

5. Run the command to clean:

   fastboot erase userdata
   fastboot erase cache

   For full formatting (including the system partition):

   fastboot erase system

   ⚠️ After this command, the phone will not boot without flashing it!
6. Reboot the device:

   fastboot reboot

If after cleaning the phone does not turn on, you will need to flash it via Mi Flash Tool using the official firmware (.tgz or .zip). You can download the firmware on the website en.miui.com (choose the version for your model!).

⚠️ Attention: Commands fastboot erase permanently delete data. If you are not sure about the device model or firmware version, use an alternative method (for example, through Recovery).

6. Method 4: Formatting via EDL mode (for "bricks")

EDL (Emergency Download Mode) - emergency mode for restoring phones that do not respond to other methods. Used if:

• 📵 The phone does not turn on and is not detected in Fastboot.
• 🔄 Stuck on the logo Mi or in the reboot cycle.
• 🚫 The firmware is damaged (error "Invalid IMEI" or "Baseband unknown").

How to enter EDL:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Hold the combination (depending on the model):
   • For Redmi Note 9/10: Volume up + Volume down + Power (hold 10–15 seconds).
   • For Xiaomi Mi 11/12: connect the switched off phone to the PC and enter the command:

     adb reboot edl

   • For older models (for example, Redmi 4X): It may be necessary to short circuit the test points on the board.

In Device Manager the device should appear on the PC Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008.

For firmware in EDL use Mi Flash Tool:

1. Download the firmware for your model (file with the extension .tgz).
2. Extract the archive into a folder without Cyrillic characters.
3. Open Mi Flash Tool, click Select and specify the path to the folder with firmware.
4. Connect the phone in the mode EDL.
5. Click Refresh —the app should detect the device.
6. Select the firmware mode:
   • Clean All —full cleaning + firmware (recommended).
   • Clean All and Lock —the same, but with the bootloader locked.

Press Flash and wait for completion (10-20 minutes).

After successful firmware, the phone will reboot in standard mode If the process is frozen. on 99% or an error appeared "SLA Auth", which means:

• 🔐 The bootloader is locked - requires unlocking via Mi Unlock Tool.
• 📥 The firmware is not suitable for your model - download another version.

⚠️ Interfaces Mi Flash Tool and procedures for unlocking the bootloader may change. For current requirements, check the official instructions on the website Xiaomi or forum 4PDA.

7. Method 5: Formatting the memory card (separate from the system)

If you need to clear only microSD or the internal memory (without resetting), do it through the phone or PC menu.

Via the phone:

1. Go to Settings → Storage.
2. Select SD card or Internal memory.
3. Click Format (or Clear).
4. Confirm the action.

Via PC:

1. Connect the phone to the computer in the mode File transfer (MTP).
2. Open This computer and find the removable drive.
3. Right click on the drive and select Format.
4. Specify the file system (FAT32 for cards up to 32 GB, exFAT for larger volumes).
5. Click Start.

For memory cards larger than Use 64 GB exFAT —this will allow you to record files larger than 4 GB (relevant for 4K video).

Memory type	Recommended file system	Max. data-i="271">Compatibility	Compatibility
microSD up to 32 GB	FAT32	4 GB	All devices
microSD 32–64 GB	exFAT or FAT32	16 EB (exFAT)	Android, Windows, macOS
microSD 128 GB or more	exFAT	16 EB	Requires support exFAT (available for all Xiaomi after 2018 year)
Internal memory	F2FS or ext4	—	Formatted only through Recovery or Fastboot

8. Frequent errors and how to avoid them

Even experienced ones users sometimes encounter problems when formatting Xiaomi. Here are typical errors and their solutions:

• 🔌 The phone does not turn on after a reset:
  • Cause: the bootloader or firmware is damaged.
  • Solution: flash the phone via Fastboot or EDL (see Methods 4–5).
• 🔒 Requires the old password from Mi Account:
  • Reason: the account Xiaomi is tied to the device.
  • Solution: restore access via account.xiaomi.com or contact support with a purchase receipt.
• ⚡ Error "Cannot receive hello packet" c Fastboot:
  • Cause: drivers are not installed or the cable is faulty.
  • Solution: use the original cable, install drivers Qualcomm or MediaTek (depending on the processor).
• 📱 After flashing there is no IMEI or network:
  • Cause: damaged partition modem.
  • Solution: flash the phone with a checkmark Clean All and Lock or restore IMEI via Engineer Mode (codes ##4636## or ##3644633##).

If none of the methods helped, perhaps the problem is hardware (for example, the flash memory is damaged). In this case, contact the service center. For diagnostics, you can use test utilities like Mi Diagnostic Tool (available for models Xiaomi and Redmi 2020–2026). data-i="317">hardware

1. Battery charge (>50%).

2. Availability of a backup copy of data.

3. Firmware compatibility with the phone model.

4. methods Fastboot/EDL).-->

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to format Xiaomi without losing data?

No, a full reset deletes all user data. However, you can choose selective wipe:

• Through Settings → Applications: delete the cache and data of specific apps.
• Via Recovery: select Wipe Cache Partition (clears only cache without affecting files).

To recover deleted data after a reset, use utilities like DiskDigger or Recuva (efficiency depends on the degree of memory overwriting).

How to reset Xiaomi if you forgot your password and Find My doesn’t work Device?

If Find My Device is disabled and the pattern key is unknown, try:

1. Reset via Recovery (see Method 2).
2. Firmware via Fastboot (see Method 3) - will remove the password, but will require unlocking the bootloader.
3. Service Center: if the phone is linked to Mi Account, confirmation of purchase may be required.

On models with HyperOS (for example, Xiaomi 14) after 5 unsuccessful attempts to enter the password, a button will appear Forgot your password? —follow the instructions to reset via email/SMS.

Why, after formatting, Xiaomi asks for the previous account owner?

This is FRP protection (Factory Reset Protection)which is activated if an account was added to the phone Google or Mi Account. To bypass:

• Enter the details of your previous account (if the phone was purchased second-hand, request them from the seller).
• If access is lost, contact support Xiaomi with purchase documents.
• For older models (until 2021), you can use bypass utilities like Mi Account Unlock Tool, but this violates the security policy.

On new devices (for example, Redmi Note 12), bypassing FRP without original data is almost impossible.

How to format Xiaomi via a computer without Fastboot?

If Fastboot does not detect the device, alternatives:

• ADB commands (if USB debugging is enabled):

  adb shell
  recovery --wipe_data

• Utilities from the manufacturer:
  • Mi PC Suite — allows you to reset the phone through a graphical interface.
  • QFil (for devices on Qualcomm) or SP Flash Tool (for MediaTek).
• EDL mode (see Method 4) - requires special cable or test points.

To use ADB you must first enable USB debugging in Settings → For developers.

Is it possible to format only the system partition without affecting user data?

Technically yes, but this is not recommended due to the risk of damaging the firmware If you need to reinstall the system without losing data:

1. Make a backup via TWRP (section Data).
2. Flash only the system partition (system) via Fastboot:

   fastboot flash system system.img

3. Recover data from backup.

This method requires experience and is only suitable for custom firmware. MIUI it is better to use a full reset.